Deck Day 8

Today's work involved two separate runs to home Depot to buy brackets. I wasn't really sure how to attach the posts to the beams. Because each post is a different size, I ended up having to use one of three methods. The best method is using a bracket specifically designed for the task. That worked for the longer posts. Three of the posts were shorter but still long enough to use another kind of bracket so I bought some of those. Three other legs are so short that you can't use a bracket so I bought giant wood screws and plan on screwing posts permanently into the beam itself so it becomes one solid unit. 

I finished up creating all of the posts from the work started yesterday and had to recut a few to get everything lined up with the porch. The goal is to have the final deck would be perfectly aligned with the surface of the porch. I think I'm in the ballpark.

I loosely put the substructure together including the brackets and double-checked all of the measurements and levels to make sure we're good to go.

Finally I unassembled the structure, labeled each post, and then Michelle helped me paint the cut ends so they'll be resealed from the elements. We need to apply two or three coats of the sealant before we permanently put the deck together.

Diesel was keeping an eye on me today.